Chapter 2343 Reward
Manbao couldn't tell the emperor directly that these items weren't that valuable in the Western Regions, and that the frankincense he'd been given had been found in a horse thief's den. So, he said, "Your Majesty, we specifically brought some tea and cloth with us when we went to the Western Regions. Once we sell them, the money we earn will not only cover our travel expenses, but also buy gifts for our friends and family."
Bai Shan added, "Also, when we were passing through Liangzhou, we encountered a group of horse thieves who blocked our way and robbed us. Fortunately, the Liangzhou Governor and Lieutenant General Nie were very brave and led their soldiers to wipe out the thieves. We were able to seize some valuables from them."
The emperor asked, "Shouldn't the confiscated property be turned over to the national treasury?"
"Yes, the Governor of Liang Province used it as military funds and also gave us some to calm us down."
Prince Gong, who had been writing with his head down, snorted coldly and said, "I'm afraid someone is asking for a bribe."
Bai Shan immediately took the lead and knelt down, "Your Highness and I dare not."
Zhou Man also knelt down and asked the emperor with his round eyes, "Your Majesty, should all the money we used to calm us down also be turned over to the national treasury?"
The emperor is not so stingy. If all the proceeds from suppressing bandits were nationalized, how many local officials and garrison troops would be willing to take the risk to suppress bandits?
Although the Great Jin was now a peaceful country with a peaceful people, there were still many bandits and robbers in the mountains. After all, there were always people who turned to banditry to make a quick buck. The emperor did not want the bandits to run rampant and cut off his transportation and trade routes, so he waved to Bai Shan and the others and said, "Since this is a gift from the Governor of Liangzhou to calm you down, just keep it."
He glared at Prince Gong secretly again and told him to write honestly.
Prince Gong lowered his eyes and continued writing.
"Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has arrived with his little grandson."
The emperor immediately smiled and beckoned, "Let them in quickly."
Then he said to Gu Zhong, "Move the brazier a little further away so the eagle slave doesn't choke."
Gu Zhong agreed with a smile and bent down to move the brazier a little further away.
The prince came in quickly, holding the child. He did not put the child down, but directly held him and bowed to the emperor, "Greetings, Father."
"No need to be polite. It's so cold, what are you doing out here with your eagle slave?"
Having said that, she stretched out her hand and asked him to hold the child.
The prince handed his son to him, then took a step back and looked at Zhou Man, unable to help but sneer, "Oh, Doctor Zhou is finally back."
Manbao lowered his head. As expected, he felt comfortable on the way but it turned into a nightmare when he returned to Beijing.
The little grandson sat in his grandfather's arms, not afraid at all. When he saw the unclosed box on the table and the red gem inside, he immediately reached out to grab it.
The emperor was already paying close attention, but he still didn't expect his hands to be so quick. He grabbed the gem in his hand with a quick stretch and a retraction. Seeing that his grandfather was trying to snatch it from him, he immediately clenched his hands tightly and held it in his arms, slightly bending his back to prevent him from snatching it.
The emperor was delighted. He patted him on the back and laughed, "Our eagle slave has sharp eyes and quick hands. He must be a martial artist."
When the eagle slave heard the emperor's grandfather praising him, he grinned and lifted up the gem he had been holding tightly in his hand and pushed it to him, "Here you go, here you go."
The emperor took it and was even happier. "Eagle slave knows how to honor his grandfather. What a good boy!"
Manbao and the other four looked at it and said silently in their hearts: This was clearly a gift from us.
But after this thing passed through the hands of the ignorant little emperor's grandson, it naturally became a gift from the little emperor's grandson.
The emperor was also getting happier. For once, he didn't hold Zhou Man and his men responsible, and made light of their late return. He even said to the crown prince who had mocked them, "Alright, Zhou Man has brought back a method for vaccinating against smallpox. You've been in charge of the Imperial Medical Bureau. Have them start researching it. If it's feasible, come up with a plan."
The prince agreed.
The emperor held the eagle slave in his arms, shook his little hand, and after a moment's silence, he asked Bai Shan and the other three, "You have made great contributions in this Western Expedition. What do you want?"
Bai Shan was slightly stunned and turned to look at Manbao.
The emperor saw her and said calmly, "Don't look at her. She is a court official. Since she has made contributions, she should be rewarded. But what about you four?"
You don't have any official position, what are you going to do?
Bai Shan gave Yin Huo a look and let him speak first.
Yin Huo stepped out of the ranks and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I did not contribute much to this Western Expedition, so I dare not take any credit for it."
The emperor smiled when he saw Yin Huo and said gently, "Although you didn't go on the Western Expedition, you did follow them all the way to the Western Regions. You contributed to the development of the cowpox treatment. Just tell me, and I will reward you whatever I can."
Yin Huo declined again, "The method for treating cowpox has not yet been determined, and Lord Zhou and Bai Shan have contributed the most to finding the prescription. I dare not take credit for it."
The emperor laughed and said, "You are as humble as your father, but don't you have confidence in the cowpox treatment you have found? I ask you to speak your mind. Even if this method doesn't work, I won't hold you accountable in the future."
Bai Shan's eyebrows twitched, and he felt a little more at ease.
Yin Huo paused and said, "Then I will boldly ask Your Majesty for a title and a mansion."
The emperor was stunned for a moment, then laughed and asked, "You want to move out of Marquis Yin's mansion? Does your father know?"
Yin Huo said, "If Your Majesty grants me a residence, I wouldn't think it's a big deal if I occasionally live there."
The emperor smiled and shook his head. After thinking for a moment, he said, "You are a county man. The county man's residence... I remember there is a nice house in Chongyifang. I will give it to you."
Yin or kneel down to express his gratitude.
The emperor looked at the other three people, his eyes sliding across Bai Shan and Bai Erlang, and then falling on Liu Huan.
Liu Huan couldn't help but secretly go to see Bai Shan and Zhou Man.
The two of them winked at him, telling him to speak boldly.
The emperor, sitting up there, took in all of this and couldn't help but ask, "What are you doing with those winks?"
Bai Shan and Man Bao immediately stood at attention with their heads lowered.
The emperor snorted, then smiled again when he looked at Liu Huan and said, "You are Liu Hui's grandson. Come, tell me what you want."
Liu Huan swallowed, but still couldn't help but look at Bai Shan.
Bai Shan gave him a look, telling him to take it easy. If he really couldn't think of anything, he couldn't ask for money. No, that's not right. The emperor might not have much money, so he could ask for things, such as cloth and precious items.
Liu Huan misunderstood, thinking that Bai Shan wanted him to say whatever he wanted to say, so he swallowed and said, "Your Majesty, may I ask for your grace?"
Bai Shan: ...
emperor:……
Everyone: ...
Even the prince couldn't help but turn his head to look at this fool.
Liu Huan became even more nervous, and couldn't help but blurt out his true feelings. "It's too difficult to pass the Jinshi exam. I don't think I can pass even if I try for ten years. I can pass the Mingjing exam, but it would be better to just accept it directly. That way, my grandfather won't keep nagging me, saying that no one likes me when I go out to find a husband..."
The emperor stroked his chin and looked him up and down, then nodded after a long pause, "No wonder..."
Then he said, "It's not impossible, but your grandfather may not agree. You should ask your grandfather first. If he asks for your approval, I will grant it to you. If not, I can make an exception and let you take the Mingjing exam in February this year. How do you think?"
See you at 9pm
(End of this chapter)
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